Liaison chief Zhang Xiaoming unmoved by Occupy Central's poll options
Zhang tells democrat Basic Law is the only basis for reforms ahead of 2017 election
Beijing's liaison office chief has reiterated that reform for the 2017 chief executive election must adhere to the Basic Law, a stance previously taken to rule out public nomination.
The remarks by Zhang Xiaoming, quoted by a pan-democratic lawmaker who met him yesterday, were the first response by a mainland official to Occupy Central supporters' selection of three options for the poll, which all call for the public to have the right to nominate candidates.
Dr Joseph Lee Kok-long said he told Zhang the options "clearly show a strong aspiration for public nomination".
Zhang did not respond to his points one by one, "because we were just making our own points and there was good communication", Lee said.
"Director Zhang reiterated clearly the central government's stance. It was the same stance … that [the election] must fit the Basic Law."
Lee - the health services representative and the first democrat to enter the liaison office in Sai Wan since 2010 - was speaking after a 90-minute meeting behind closed doors.